Boogie Fland, a projected first-round choose within the 2025 NBA Draft (No. 20 on our newest Combination Mock Draft), is shortly making a reputation for himself as a freshman beneath John Calipari in his first yr teaching Arkansas after leaving Kentucky.
Standing at about 6-foot-2 and weighing slightly below 180 kilos, Fland will draw comparisons to a former Calipari-coached guard Rob Dillingham, the eighth general choose in final yr’s draft, or a little-known guard drafted out of Vanderbilt named Darius Garland.
Recognized for his capturing contact, poise, playmaking and his capability to thrive each on-ball and off-ball, Fland is already showcasing his potential as a future NBA guard.
Following a clutch efficiency in opposition to Miami, Fland spoke with HoopsHype and mirrored on the beginning of his true freshman season, his capability to shut video games, his playstyle, enjoying in high-intensity conditions early within the yr and extra.
Boogie Fland: I imply, they have been displaying, it was scorching hedging. So simply swinging the ball, swinging it from one facet to the opposite, after which getting it again after which play it down the stretch. I imply, that’s all I can do, simply attempt to get the W for my staff.
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BF: I imply, it exhibits us what we will do, what we may be. We dropped out of the High 25, we’re simply attempting to get again into it and maintain attempting to movement with the staff.
BF: Spirit, depth, simply selecting it up. Once we go up, having that love for one another, and simply looking for our approach. It’s nonetheless early within the season, attempting to get higher every single day, recreation by recreation.
BF: Simply maintain going, I imply, basketball’s a recreation of runs. They’re gonna make runs, or positively did make runs within the first half. Simply come again second half with extra depth, extra spirit, and simply maintain going all through the sport.
BF: I imply, similar to you stated, enjoying again in New York, my hometown, simply popping out with a W there. I’m not altering something, not going to a lot. Simply stick with the sport, enjoying to fall in love with what we do.
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BF: I imply, that’s basketball. Basketball’s a staff sport. Can’t do it by your self, it’s fantastic with the individuals on the ground. Simply staying with them is what we do. Staying with the staff.
BF: I imply, it’s only a mindset. I’ve been doing this my entire life. That is what I’ve to work with, I’m not making ready for this. I’ve to for the staff additionally. It’s the one factor we do.
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BF: I imply, it’s simply facet execution, sticking with it, holding my comply with via. Stuff like that. There’s little solutions that you just gotta do to maintain the shot from perfection. I simply really feel like I gotta keep it up.
BF: Most positively, it’s a protracted season. We’re looking for our groove. That is recreation quantity eight. It’s nonetheless a protracted season to go. I really feel like, such as you stated, simply scratching the floor. Staying assured on the market. When the shot’s not falling, what else are you able to do? However simply maintain capturing.
BF: In fact, these groups I really feel like that get put into these conditions, make it far in March Insanity, and I really feel like that’s what we wanna do.
BF: I imply, simply maintain going. Each recreation is a tough recreation. You gotta come to it with the identical depth, similar spirit. You gotta stand up for each recreation. You could have a foul recreation, you gotta maintain going. You simply gotta maintain going. It’s a protracted season. Maintain working.
BF: Undoubtedly didn’t get down. I really feel like Illinois was like a wake-up second for us. I really feel like we have been lackadaisical via the beginning. They got here out fantastic. They got here out wanting it greater than us. They have been simply hungrier, and that woke us up.
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BF: I really feel like there’s room for enchancment all over the place. I’m in faculty now, so simply making the best reads, getting everyone else concerned, being a frontrunner. I really feel like I acquired to step up extra as a frontrunner function, particularly being a freshman and having a degree guard function for a giant, huge staff.
